Jeremiah 4:13–22

¹³Look! Our enemies are approaching like the clouds.

Their chariots are coming like a strong wind.

Their horses are faster than eagles.

How terrible it will be for us!

We’ll be destroyed!

¹⁴People of Jerusalem, wash your sins from your hearts and be saved.

How long will you hold on to your evil thoughts?

¹⁵A voice is speaking all the way from the city of Dan.

From the hills of Ephraim it announces

that trouble is coming.

¹⁶“Tell the nations.

Warn Jerusalem.

Say, ‘An army will attack you.

It is coming from a land far away.

It will shout a war cry

against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷It will surround them like people who guard a field.

Judah has refused to obey me,’ ”

announces the Lord.

¹⁸“The army will attack you

because of your conduct and actions.

That is how you will be punished.

It will be so bitter!

It will cut deep down into your hearts!”

¹⁹I’m suffering! I’m really suffering!

I’m hurting badly.

My heart is suffering so much!

It’s pounding inside me.

I can’t keep silent.

I’ve heard the sound of trumpets.

I’ve heard the battle cry.

²⁰One trouble follows another.

The whole land is destroyed.

In an instant my tents are gone.

My home disappears in a moment.

²¹How long must I look at our enemy’s battle flag?

How long must I hear the sound of the trumpets?

²²The Lord says, “My people are foolish.

They do not know me.

They are children who do not have any sense.

They have no understanding at all.

They are skilled in doing what is evil.

They do not know how to do what is good.”